I have an Emachines T3612 it's only 16 months old and I ham hearing the CPU fan getting loud on certain programs or games or sometimes just whenever it wants to get loud.I opened the case and listened and I thought it was the power supply but it's not.It's a big fan and I was told by Gateway that it's called a CPU fan.Now I cleaned it with a new paintbrush and it did quiet it down this was just 3 days ago and again its starting to get loud not as much but still!I found out what type of fan I have on Emachines website do I order another one or is there something else wrong maybe?I have been researching this and I downloaded a program to watch the CPU's temps Speedfan it hasn't went over 40 C yet from what I'm gathering that good.I know some stuff about computers but hardware issues the only thing I have ever done was upgrades like memory and CDROM drives just installing hardware of course its not hard but this fan is a whole different issue for me.I'm afraid I will screw something up.If I did get another fan from Emachines can I install or I see four screws on the one I have now?Cleaning it did help but I shouldnt have to get in there every few days and clean it!I've had several Gateways through the years and didn't have ANY issues once so ever but this is my first time not owning an actual Gateway I wouldnt recommend Emachines if hardware fails this early!Other than this issue it runs good but VERY annoying and afraid it might lead to further more serious issues and the thought of have some stupid person (technician) trying to fix my PC scares me to death!I dont have warranty could kick myself for that so I cant have them fix it.I'd like to see if I can fix it myself. I dont know what info you need but I'm running on Windows Vista Home Basic I have 1037 MB Ram,I have a Celeron D processor heres some info I copied from the Emachines site about this hunk of junk https://www.pcfactoryoutlet.com/emachines/sys_lookup.asp

The inside of a PC should be cleaned at least once a year, depending on the environment. If you smoke, have pets, have the tower on the floor, etc you should clean it more often. Generally all it takes is a good blasting with compressed air, but if you go too long between cleanings, the dust builds up & is harder to remove, plus it tends to work it's way into fan bearings, shortening the live of the fan. Usually when the fan starts getting noisy, it's too late, but you *MAY* be able to buy yourself some time by removing the fan, thoroughly cleaning it, then placing a drop of oil to the bearing.

You should be able to find a fan without going through e-machines, just Google "celeron D fan" and find one at a respectable vendor. E-machines used to be known for using very cheap parts (though that may have changed since the Gateway buyout). Jam's also correct about the dust thing. Biggest killer of systems I ever encounter is the ones that sit on the floor and become very expensive vacuum cleaners....

Well blasted this thing I got a big can of air and got it good and clean I unscrewed the fan and took it out underneath was more dirt I couldn't get to until I took the fan out and blew the fan out good too and sprayed where I'd seen dust I missed.I put the fan back in thank god my computer still works cause I knocked something over a round fat thing that stick up I just knocked it over thank got it didn't come unsautereted ( dont know how to spell that) I DID move my computer UP off the floor yes beat me madly it was on the floor and I am a cat breeder so I have many kitties :-( I called Staples they are gonna take a look at it for me but the thought of someone else doing work on MY computer scares me!I've never had this type of issue and could usually fix it myself which I am TRYING to do and listening to what everyone is saying!The type of fan I have has an aluminum piece attached to it is that a heatsink or something?I picked up a fan today but it was the wrong one I needed that aluminum piece too this one didnt have it.They had some but they fans were smaller.Despite blowing my computer out good its still reving up and down when I run a virus scan I use Kaspersky and this fan goes crazy.It is quiet at times but Im starting to learn what will make it loud sad!Anyhow I guess I look for another fan?Do I have to have another one with the aluminum piece?The only one I can find as of now is the one on Emachines site.I just wonder if this will fix it cause I spoke to tech support at Emachines and they said something about a sensor being bad..I have no clue what that means.I guess my next step is get another fan if that don't work off to Staples repair I guess.